Tober Inver

Located on the SW bank of a small NW-SE stream, c. 50m SE of the bridge (MO031-105----) and c. 80m NNE of Maheross church (MO031-035001-). A well close to the bridge is depicted on an illustration of Essex Castle (MO031-034001-) from 1736, albeit on the NE side of the stream. Shirley (1845, 171) records a well near the church, which was known locally as ‘Tober Inver’, but as there was no saint of this name in the martyrologies he thought the saint’s name was a corruption of Fionnbharr. However, the well is more likely to have been named after Finnian of Movila, Co. Down rather than Fionnbharr of Cork (Ó Riain 2011, 333-4). A well described as ‘Tober Inver’ in gothic lettering is depicted on the 1834 and 1907 editions of the OS 6-inch map. The well does not survive, although there is a shrine to St. Fionnbharr. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 20 July 2017

Tober Inver, Magheross is associated with Saint Inver, a lesser-known early Irish saint, and is traditionally linked to healing waters, particularly for ailments of the eyes and skin. The well's proximity to Maheross church suggests a long-standing Christian and folkloric tradition in the area.